Everyone always gushes about Hilton Head Island’s natural beauty—and we don’t disagree, they have a reason to gush! There’s a very noticeable lack of neon signs, billboards, and really anything that’s designed to stick out, for that matter. Throughout your day, you’ll only see greenery, beautiful beaches, and architectural styles that blend in with the landscape on purpose.
But at night, that’s when the feeling-like-you’re-in-the-middle-of-nowhere bliss sets in. Maybe it’s the main reason the trip was booked!
It takes a while to get used to driving at night, as there are very few street lamps to guide your way and it’s just plain dark. Along the beach during turtle nesting season, locals and visitors join forces to stop light pollution from deterring any sea turtle from laying her eggs, or confusing hatchlings on their journey to the water’s edge. As far as the rest of the island is concerned, there aren’t that many spots where it gets any lighter.
This summer’s night sky is going to be full of amazing stargazing, meteor showers, and more!
Here is a list of what to look out for:
Venus and Jupiter Conjunction
June 8th-9th
Ever since the end of March, Venus and Jupiter will be closing the distance between each other in the night sky little by little. And on June 9th when you look up, the two planets will be seen in such close proximity together that you’ll be able to separate them by using only your little finger. Venus and Jupiter are two of the brightest planets in the night sky already, so you’ll be able to find the pair pretty easily!
June Solstice
July 21st
While some people celebrate the beginning of summer during Memorial Day weekend, the official start to the astronomical season is during the Summer Solstice. The Earth’s axis tilts in such a way during this event, allowing for the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Happy Summer, y’all!
Strawberry Moon
June 29th
June’s full moon is called the Strawberry Moon, and this year, it marks the first full moon of the summer season! While it won’t be as large and as low in the sky as last year (we’ll have to wait until 2043 for that), it’s lower position in the sky makes it appear more orange or yellow making it a beautiful sight regardless! It’ll also be your reminder that it’s strawberry season–yum!
Buck Moon
July 29th
Known as the “Buck Moon,” July’s Full Moon’s nickname stems from the Native American Algonquin people who connected the Moon’s monthly phase to the period of time when male deer begin to grow their antlers. While the name, “Buck Moon” was the one that caught on the most, other native groups named this specific Full Moon after thunder, berries, salmon, and more.
Southern Delta Aquariids
Peak: July 30th (Period: July 18th – August 21st)
While Fourth of July fireworks light up the night sky at the beginning of the month, the Southern Delta Aquariids meteor shower will serve as the finale. This meteor showers occurs annually, with its peak considered to be on 30th. If you’ve never seen a shooting star before, this will be your next opportunity. If you happen to miss the “peak” of this shower, the good news is that these meteors will basically blend into the Perseids in August.
Perseid Meteor Shower
Peak: August 12th-13th (Period: July 23-August 22)
Originating from the constellation, Perseus, this meteor shower is expected to increase in its number of meteors, or “shooting stars,” every night until peaking on August 12th in the late evening and into the early hours of the 13th. It’s expected to produce dozens of meteors per hour. As long as it’s a clear night, these days will be a great time for viewing, however the moon’s phase might reduce visibility.
Sturgeon Moon
August 27th
Look to the night sky on August 27th for August’s Sturgeon Moon–and a little extra celestial magic! As the Full Moon continues into the early morning hours of August 28th, it will pass through Earth’s shadow, creating a partial lunar eclipse. With nearly the entire Moon entering the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, skywatchers can enjoy a striking reddish-orange glow. Find a spot with a clear view of the sky and take a moment to enjoy this special nighttime show!
When to look up: If you’re on Hilton Head Island, look up at 12:12am on Friday, August 28th.
We found a really neat and useful tool for those wishing they could easily point out constellations. Visit Stelvision’s Sky Map and find a free customized map for your location, date, and time!
